by David-Elijah Nahmod

The recent documentary Campaign of Hate: Russia and Gay
Propaganda comes to DVD courtesy of Lucas
Documentaries, a subsidiary of gay porn studio Lucas Entertainment. Gay porn
superstar Michael Lucas serves as the producer on Campaign of Hate.
He's also the journalist who courageously traveled
to his native Russia to film this no-holds-barred look at the dangers facing
the Russian LGBT community.

Those who might hesitate to take Lucas seriously due to his
adult-film notoriety might want to think again. Lucas is a superb interviewer
who asks his subjects tough and intelligent questions. He puts a face on the
besieged LGBT community in Russia, and exposes the magnitude of the problem. His
work in Campaign of Hate is as good, if
not better, than anything that might air on CNN. "The scapegoats used to
be Jews," Lucas said in a press release. "But most of them left after
the collapse of the Soviet Union. And so the Russians have moved on to the LGBT
community, which coincides well with Putin's cynical campaign of Russian
nationalism."

Interviewees include lesbian journalist Masha Gessen, who
lives in Russia with her partner and their two children. The kids talk on
camera, expressing their deep sadness and bewilderment that anyone would be
against the loving family they're part of. Gessen, who has reported from the
front lines of war zones without fear, is suddenly fearful – Putin wants to
take children away from LGBT-identified parents. The family may move to New
York so they can stay together.

"It's unusual not to have been gay-bashed," says
one young man. Several bashing victims tell of police apathy as a collage of
everyday Russian citizens, interviewed on a Moscow street, express their
intense dislike of all LGBT people.

Lucas shows great courage, strength, and restraint during a
sit-down interview with Vitaly Milonov, a Russian lawmaker. Milonov uses words
like "sick" and "filthy" to describe LGBT people as he
states point-blank that most LGBTs are pedophiles.

It all began with the passing of Russia's "gay
propaganda" law in June 2013. It is now a criminal offense in that country
to present homosexuality in a positive light to anyone under 18. While some
community members want to flee the country, others are determined to stay and
fight. A small but hearty band of gay men and lesbians stages a kiss-in on a
city street, and are promptly beaten while the police look the other way. An
LGBT film festival receives bomb threats.

Campaign of Hate is a
terrifying film that shines a light on the truth. It's happening not only in
Russia, but also in Iraq, Iran, and other countries. With several American red
states now passing "right to discriminate" bills, it could happen
here as well.